VEGF-B Improves Metabolic Health through Vascular Pruning of Fat Shahin Rafii, Peter Carmeliet  Cell Metabolism  Volume 23, Issue 4, Pages 571-573 (April 2016) DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.03.012 Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 VEGF-B, via Activation of VEGF-A/VEGFR2 Pathway, Improves Metabolic Health Left panel: endothelial cells (ECs) express VEGFR1 (binding VEGF-A and VEGF-B) and VEGFR2 (binding VEGF-A). In low VEGFR2 signaling conditions, an imbalance between angiogenesis and adipose tissue growth causes hypoxia and inflammation, which contribute to insulin resistance and impair glucose tolerance. Right panel: when extra VEGF-B is available (upon gene transfer), VEGF-B displaces VEGF-A from VEGFR1, which can now activate VEGFR2 signaling, leading to enhanced angiogenesis and oxygenation and reduced inflammation, indirectly contributing to improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Cell Metabolism 2016 23, 571-573DOI: (10.1016/j.cmet.2016.03.012) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions